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Page 230
fear of Ireland, Ian. I suppose it comes from my mother and father drowning on their passage home from there." She shuddered.
In spite of the dress and the glowing look of maturity, the old Alinor was still there. Ian took her hand and smiled at her. "That is not like you, Alinor. Think how near you came to drowning yourself on your way to the Holy Land. Do you fear that? And I know you used to go sailing for pleasure."
"It is true, and it is also true that I do not fear the sea, nor fear drowning. It is Ireland itself I fearand not, it seems to me, for myself. Ian, why are we speaking of Ireland?"
"Because that was Oxford's purpose. He has large property there and, like you, has had nothing from it except complaints since FitzHenry has governed there."
"Why should he be different? William has been half crazy over what is happening, Isobel tells me. He has begged and prayed King John to let him go and at least set Leinster to rights, but the king has forbade it."
"So Oxford says also. To say it in plain words, Oxford wishes to avoid the king's commands and for a group of us to go and make peace thereat least on our own lands. To me it seems"
"No, Ian! Oh, do not go to Ireland. Not now! I fear"
"Certainly not now," Ian soothed, kissing the hand he held. "I must be married first, you know, and then there are those castellans of Simon's to settle with. In any case, the decision does not rest with me. Your holdings are small. What Oxford desires is that William of Pembroke should go. That is why he was so hot to come here. He wished to talk to Pembroke without giving John cause for suspicion."
A brisk war between her fear for and love of Ian and her passionate possessiveness was fought in Alinor's breast. Calling a temporary truce, she asked suspiciously, "If he was not urging you to undertake this

 
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